Combination bib and safety garment for infants



J. NIGRO Oct. 16, 1956 COMBINATION BIB AND SAFETY GARMENT FOR INFANTS Filed Oct. 4, 1954 R w m w.

United States Patent COMBINATION BIB AND SAFETY GARMENT FOR INFANTS Julia Nigro, Kansas City, Mo.

Application October 4, 1954, Serial No. 459,912

1 Claim.v (Cl. 2-49) This invention relates to garments for infants and, particularly, to a novel protective covering in the nature of a bib.

The most important object of the present invention is the provision of a protective covering which may be quickly and easily placed upon a child for use as a garment or, alternately, placed in use as a combination bib and safety harness for preventing movement of the child out of a high chair or the like.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a protective covering or bib, the lower portion of which will underlie an infant seated in a chair while the upper or bib portion may be attached to the infant after he is in the chair and, subsequently, to the chair itself.

With these and other objects in view, the infants garment of the present invention comprises generally an elongated strip of fabric material having a pair of opposed, arcuate notches therein, which notches divide the strip into a seat portion, crotch portion and an upper or bib portion; and elongated tying tapes on the seat portion and on the bib portion for attaching the garment either to the waist of the infant or to the back of a chair.

Other objects include the provision of a water repellent lining on the outer surface of the garment; shoulder straps to which the tying tape for the bib portion is attached; a harness permitting limited movement of the infant in the chair by virtue of the provision of elastic lengths in the tying tapes; releasable snap and ring fasteners at each end respectively of each of the tapes; and other, more minor objects which will become apparent in the specification which follows.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a combination bib and safety harness made in accordance with the present invention and shown in use on an infant seated in a high chair.

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view, illustrating the manner of attaching the garment to the high chair; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the garment per se.

Referring now to Fig. 3 of the drawing, the garment of the present invention is made from an initially flat, elongated strip of material, broadly designated by the numeral 10. The strip is provided with a pair of opposed, inwardly extending notches 12 and 14, presenting a relatively narrow crotch portion 16, a lower or seatportion 18, and an upper or bib portion 20.

Preferably, the notches 12 and 14 are of an arcuate nature for the purposes of comfort, protection and appearance.

Seat portion 18 is substantially rectangular in shape except for the cut away portions thereof defined by inclined, side edges 22 and 24 which communicate with notches 12 and 14 respectively. Similarly, the generally arcuate side edges 26 and 28 of bib portion 20 are cut away as at 30 and 32 to present inclined lengths of side edges 26 and 28 respectively. At its uppermost end, bib portion 20 is provided with an indentation or notch 34 which presents a neck-receiving portion.

Strip 10 is provided with a lining or layer 36 of water" At its uppermost end, bib portion 20 is provided with a pair of shoulder straps 46 and 48 which, in turn, are attached at their outermost, free ends to a second, elongated, tying tape 50. Straps 46 and 48 are releasably joined to bib portion 20 by snap elements 53 on bib portion 28 and on straps 46 and 48. Tape 50 has lengths 45 of elastic, a snap hook fastener 49 and a ring 51 which are, in all respects, similar to the same elements on lower tape 40. It is contemplated that the strip 10, tapes 40 and 50, and shoulder straps 46 and 48 will be fabricated from the same pattern of material.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate clearly the use of the garment just described. The notches 12 and 14 receive the legs of the infant with the crotch portion 16 in the normal position between the infants legs. Seat portion 18 of strip 10 lays on the seat of high chair 60, while the tapes 40 and 50 are attached to the back of the chair 60. Bib portion 20 extends upwardly from crotch portion 16 along the front of the infant. Straps 46 and 48 fit over the shoulders of the infant and the tape 50 passes therefrom and around the back of chair 60.

When attached to chair 60 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the tapes 40 and 50, through the resilience of elastic lengths 45, present a sliding harness by means of which the infant is restrained against movement out of the chair but allowed sufficient freedom to prevent binding or discomfort. To remove the infant from the chair it is only necessary to release the snaps 49. If it is desired to leave the strip 10 attached to chair 60 for continuous use until such time as it is necessary to remove the garment from the chair for cleaning the water repellent lining 36 or the strip 10, it is only necessary to release snap elements 53 bfeore removing the child from the chair.

Although not shown, it is manifest that the garment of the present invention may be used as such, rather than as a safety harness, merely by winding the tapes 40 and 50 about the waist of an infant and interconnecting the respective snaps 49 and rings 51.

It is obvious that the embodiment herein disclosed is a preferred form only and that many changes or modifications may be made therein without departing from the broad principles of the present invention. Such changes or modifications are contemplated hereby and it is, therefore, desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

In a protective garment adapted for use as a safety harness for infants, an elongated strip of material having a pair of opposed notches intermediate the ends thereof, presenting a crotch portion between the notches, a seat portion on one side of the notches and a bib portion on the other side of the notches, there being an arcuate notch in the strip at one end thereof, presenting a neckaccommodating, cut-away portion in the bib portion; a cover of water repellent material and of configuration substantially congruent with the strip superimposed upon the latter; a first, elongated tape having an intermediate portion thereof superimposed upon the seat portion of the strip and traversing the latter adjacent the opposite end thereof; a line of stitching penetrating the strip, the cover and the intermediate portion of the first tape to interconnect the same, said stitching circumscribing the margins of the strip and the cover; a pair of elongated shoulder straps; means for releasably interconnecting one end of said straps with said bib portion on respectively opposite sides of said last-mentioned notch; a second, elongated tape; means securing the opposite ends of the straps to said second tape intermediate the ends of the latter; a length of elastic material on each end of each tape respectively; means for releasably interconnecting 4 said lengths on the opposite ends of said first tape; and means for releasably interconnecting said lengths on the opposite ends of said second tape.

5 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,316,163 Kennedy Sept. 16, 1919 1,376,625 Johnston May 3, 1921 10 1,837,983 Moran Dec. 22, 1931 2,252,357 Shaw Aug. 12, 1941 2,521,020 Prescott Sept. 5, 1950 2,634,421 Ceraulo- Apr. 14, 1953 2,635,245 Nigro Apr. 21, 1953 15 2,641,764 Fischer June 16, 1953 

